RAMONA’S OLYMPIC CONNECTION Shockmaster Helps to Win the Gold in Athens

Kimberly Rhode won Gold in 1996, Bronze in 2000 and Gold in 2004.

by Jim Evans

Sometimes there is more to winning a gold medal at the Olympics — or any medal at the Olympics, for that matter — than just beating the competition. Advanced training techniques and nutrition, better equipment and modern technology all have contributed to improved performance among athletes.

In the case of American Kim Rhode, who won her second gold and third overall Olympic medal Aug. 18 in women’s double trap shooting in Athens, her success can be attributed at least in part to her use of the G-Squared Shockmaster.

Michael Gregory of Ramona builds G-Squared Shockmaster for shotgun enthusiasts all over the world.

Manufactured in Ramona by Michael Gregory, the Shockmaster is a patented recoil reduction system installed on shotgun buttstocks to minimize the “kick” typical of most shotguns.

Rhode, 25, who won a world championship at 13, was captain of the All American Skeet Team at 14, won her first gold medal in double trap at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and captured a bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She has been using the Shockmaster most of her career — since September 1994, to be exact.

File Photos by shirley Wells

Anyone who has fired a shotgun can attest to its violent recoil, which can be especially problematic, especially for young shooters, according to Gregory. They often develop a subconscious reaction or memory that can adversely affect their shooting ability for the rest of their lives.

“The Shockmaster has been a lifesaver for me,” Rhode said at a concert in Santa Barbara after returning from Athens. “It absorbs the recoil to my arms and shoulders, which allows me to practice more without injuring myself. But, just as important, it allows me to shoot more quickly — particularly in doubles, where I can move from one target to the next without waiting for the recoil, because the Shockmaster adjusts instantly.”

The Shock-master was developed by Gregory’s father, Glenn, who invented and patented the device after retiring as an electrical engineer. The senior Gregory hunted a lot as a youngster, and his favorite shotgun apparently kicked pretty hard and left a lasting impression both mentally and physically.

It was a natural inclination for him to seek a solution to reducing the recoil, so shotgun afficionados could focus on improving their shooting skills without anticipating the usual kick and without experiencing the inevitable bruising from repeated shooting. Someone like Rhode, for example, might practice by shooting as many as 500 to 1,000 clay targets a day.

Mike Gregory joined his father in 1993 and has continued to improve the Shockmaster.

“My father’s motto was that ‘We make every one...just as good as we can.’ That sounds, perhaps, a little too simple, but to this day that is exactly what I do,” Gregory said. “When (the Shockmasters) first came out, people would say, ‘They’re ugly but, man, they really work.’

“We took that to heart and strove to make every one mechanically and dimensionally perfect while continuing trying to improve the looks of the product. After many years and a lot of experimentation, I continue to receive compliments not only on how well they work but how great they look.”

Rather than relying on springs for a fast return from the recoil, the Shockmaster uses a patented air shock absorber designed to work at the leading edge of the recoil curve, where maximum acceleration occurs. No hydraulic mechanism or oil is used in the system, and it adds zero to 3 ounces maximum weight to the weapon, depending on wood density and the original recoil pad weight.

The Shockmaster is designed for use on shotguns only. Through the years, Gregory has added options like an adjustable offset on the comb (the top of the stock where you place your cheek before firing) so that it can be moved side to side and enable the shooter to look right down the barrel; an adjustable recoil pad that can be twisted at the back of the stock into a pocket on the shoulder (or lower) so that the gun sits a little higher; a soft (padded) comb as an additional measure of protection for shooters particularly sensitive to recoil in the face; and finish mixes similar to most gun manufacturers that give the appearance that the gun stock was factory-made.

“We have the best recoil system in the world,” Gregory said. “We have sold them to shooters all over the world, including England, Wales, Germany, Italy, India, Australia, the Philippines and others.”

Will Rhode and her Shockmaster try to make the Olympic team again in 2008?

“You bet,” Rhode said. “Even though my event (double trap shooting) has been discontinued, I will be trying out for the trap and skeet events.”

Stay tuned for an in-depth interview with Rhode in next month’s edition of the Ramona Home Journal.

For further information about the Shockmaster, call (760) 788-8888 or refer to their website at www.shockmaster.com.

RHJ file Photo